"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Dr. Adrian Rogers 1931-2005

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Mountain Goat? Napoleon?

We raise goats, mostly La Mancha's, but we do have a few mixed goats that are La Mancha-Nigerian Dwarf mix. Pepe is a buck that is a mix, and he has been so interesting to have on the farm. He jumps out of his pen every day, and walks the property and checks out all the other animals. He returns to the pen several times during the day, only to patrol again later. He really cracks me up, as he believes he is king. I told Bill we missed out on his name, as we should have named him Napoleon- as he is much more grand in mind than in stature, yet does has a kingdom(the farm)!

Well one of the kids called to me yesterday and asked if I wanted to have a good laugh- of course I said yes. So this is what I found.

He's so cute! We have mixed breeds as well and our first two kids were born 3 months. Our other doe is due January 4th and I hope she has twins (or more) as well. We are milking the mom of the first twins and getting about 2 quarts of fresh milk a day. I just made our first batch of buttermilk and yogurt this week. Both were very good. As soon as I get enough extra milk in the freezer, cheese making is next on my list of things to learn to do!

Jennifer- we initially started raising goats for the milk to make soap. Then I began making cheese, and loved it so much. We also have a large Hispanic population that cooks goat on a spit for celebrations such as quincereras, so we thought we would begin to sell the goats that way. So far we have sold 6 goats. Recently we decided to try goat ourselves and will be butchering one to freeze and eat. I am researching recipes now.

Cute is true, and therefore we do have critters that are productive and we name...milkers and breeding does we name, the bucks except Pepe which is our stud buck, are not named. I do understand...and we have some chickens named for the same reason as well as a goose. Unless we are starving these named ones will be tools not food for the farm. Making cheese is not as hard as making the soap. We use the standard cheese-which is crumbly on pizza, in burritoes and on toast. It is wonderful!

About Me

I have been married to my best friend for nearly 29 years and we live on a small farm in the middle of the desert.
We have four children (now adults) three daughters-in-law, two grandsons and look forward to many more added to the fold.